Apparatus for forming and shaping corsets



` (Nro Model.)

J. A. HOUSE.l

APPARATUS'FGR FORMING ANDSHAPING G'ORSETS.

No. 2188,63?. 'Pamenteslom zo, 1383.

Curran STAP-res Paritair Orrin?.

JAMES A. HOUSE, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT. A

`APPARATUS FOR FORMIANG AND SHAPING coasers.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 288,637, dated November 2,0, 1&53.

Application filed April 23, 1883. (No model.)

connection with the accompanying drawings,`

is a specification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

In this invention I employa divided form pivoted or mounted upon levers orV supports, co-operating with which is a spreader and an equalizer, the spreader being herein shown as a ri ght-and-leftthreaded screw and the equalizer as composed of links and astud or pin travcling in or upon a guide. As the upper ends of the levers are separated to expand or separate the two parts of the corset-form, the links ofthe equalizer, withtheir connecting pin or stud in a guide, prevent the form parts from tipping over unequally, and insure equal movement of the two parts of the form. Each form, preferablymade hollow and of metal, is provided with a series of studs or hooks tof-re` ceive the eyeleted edges of the corset when the latter 'is being iinished, and at such time the usual hooks and eyepieces of the corsetsteels are properly engaged one with the other. The

form may be heated by gas or other iiame or by steam, as may be desired.

My invention consists, essentially, in a di.-` vided form and levers to engage or support the same, combined with a spreader, to actuate the said levers and expand the corsetform; also, in a divided form, levers to engage it, and aspreader, combined with equalizing mechanism to insure equal movement of the two parts of the form when being separated or spread apart.

Figure l is a front elevation, partly broken out, of a corset-finishing apparatus embodying my invention; Fig. 2, a broken side elevatoin; and Fig. 3, a detail ofthe edges of the two parts of the form at the back, to show the studs or pins wit-h which the eyelets of `the corset are enga-ged.

The frame .A` of the machine, of suitable shape to sustain the working parts, has suitablebearings to support the rods or pins a a., which serve as the fulcra for the levers b b', which, as herein shown, have their upper ends rounded and entered into slots or pockets formed in the inner or contiguous faces of the two parts c c of the form, the said parts being preferably made of metal and hollow, for the sake of lightness, and also so as to enable them to be heated by a gas-name, as at d, from a gas-burner, d', or it might be a Bunsenburner adapted to commingle gas and air, or to be heated by the iiame of a lamp. e, or it might 6o be a steam-pipe led into the said form parts. The lower ends of the levers b b are provided with or loosely engage nuts f f on a shaft, g, supportedin suitable bearings and having a right-and-left hand thread, so that rotation of 6 5 the said shaft in one or the other direction l will cause the upper ends of the said levers to approach each other or to move away from each other, the latter movement causing the form parts c c to separate and stretch and 7o shape the corset applied about them, as will be described. The dotted lines, Fig. 1, show the pjojsition of the levers when the form acts to stretch and shape a corset. The screw forms an expanding device for the levers and form, andinplace of it I may use any wellknown equivalent. The frame has an attached guide, h, herein shown -as` a slotted metal plate, which receives a pin or stud, h', placed at the junction of, and which serves to connect, the lower ends of the two links m m', which form what I denominate the equalizing mechanism.77 The upper ends of these links are pivoted or connected at n n to the form parts at their lower portions, so that as S 5 the form is expanded and the pin or stud h rises in the guide the links of t-he equalizing device so hold the parts c c that one cannot move farther than the other, and thereby the corset is equally stretched from a common center line.

The corset is not herein shown, but it will be of usual form. The hooks and eyes attached to its steels will be engaged one with the other, and the usual eyelets of the eyeleted edges, which receive the usual lacing-cord, will be placed over the pins or studs o o, and then the spreader or screw g will be turned to separate the upper ends of the levers b b and expand the form, thus stretching and shaping roo the corset to the shape of the form.

It is obvious that the form might be expandy Q asses? -ed by moving but one of the levers b or b; but

the result would not be as satisfactory and desirable as to move both of the said levers, and it is best to move each of them the same distance.

The studs o o', attached to the parts c c of the form, are extended outwardly from the sides of the form parts, as iu Fig. 3, so as to get under the eyeleted edges of the corset.

I claiml. In a eorset-iinishing apparatus, a divided form, levers to support the same, and a spreader to operate the said levers and separate the two parts of the forni, substantially as described.

2. In acorset-nishing apparatus, a divided forni provided with studs or pins, two levers t0 support the said forni, and a spreader to operate the said leversk and separate the two parts ofthe form, substantially as described. 2o4

3. The divided form, levers to support the saine, anda spreader to operate the said levers and separate the said form, combined with an equalizer, to operate substantially as described.

4. The divided hollow form parts7 and the links, pin or stud and guide, combined with the two levers7 and spreading devices, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my naine 3o to this speciication in the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses.

JAMES ALFORD HOUSE. a Vitnesses:

CHARLES H. DIMOND, HENRY F. GOODWIN. 

